What to Pack for a Long Weekend Away as a Family

If you thought that a sneaky long weekend was just for adults, think again. We love a family getaway for a couple of days, and it needn’t be stressful when you prepare well and go expecting adventure over relaxation. Here are our top tips for what to pack to keep the whole family happy: 

Packing for the kids 

Clothing to layer up including something long sleeved. Musts during spring/summer include tee + shorts for sunny days outside. Keep to a monochrome or green & blue colour palette that you can mix and match with and add colour through accessories. 

Mini Rodini Parrot Tee £29

Bermuda green & white shorts from Noe & Zoe €42,98

A pashmina or thin blanket for doubling up as a wrap, blanket, something snuggly for on the journey… 

A bag of parent essentials Calpol sachets, plasters and Vaseline (in case shoes rub) and sun cream. Not forgetting any nappies and wipes you usually need, and extras for any leak emergencies. 

A big muslin (or two) for babies which can be used for an extra layer of warmth, cleaning up milk dribble, or a soft surface when out and about and needing a roll about.  

Etta Loves Monochrome Sensory Muslins £26

A lightweight raincoat so drizzle doesn’t have to stop your fun! 

Moncler Rainbow Rain Jacket £36

A denim jacket or similar if rain isn’t likely but you want a thicker layer to keep off any cold breezes of an evening. 

Sun hats to make sure they don’t get overheated while they’re having fun. Our sun hats offer smart design technology to not only keep heads the right temperature but to provide protection from the sun’s harmful UVA + UVB rays and to keep bugs away too! Browse our summer hats here.

Cub Panda Pop

Sunglasses for full protection when they’re out in the sun skip high-street glasses and opt for our Panda Pop ‘Scout’ shades which have been produced to higher standards. Read our blog on our glasses vs Highstreet sunglasses to find out why they’re a great summer investment.  

Scout Kids Sunglasses

Swim stuff. Pick swimwear with UVA +UVB protection if you’re planning to swim outdoors and don’t forget towels, floats and swim nappies too. If you’re off on a beach weekend you might want to read our blog on keeping children safe by the sea (with further product tips)

A small rucksack or bag for helping them feel responsible and carrying their own snacks and toys about during the weekend too. 

Paper and a pen for open-ended fun when you’re waiting in a restaurant or have time to kill with a quick game or doodle. Grown-ups pack a set of playing cards for yourself too! Great for late night competition while the kids sleep.  

A pack of PlayPrompts fab for keeping little ones entertained in all occasions, but particularly the journeyPROMPTS when you’re travelling as a family. 

Adults 

As with the kids, pack light by choosing things you can easily layer. Don’t forget extra tops (you can never be too careful thanks to clumsy/grubby little hands!)  

A great pair of cotton trousers/jeans with plenty of pockets. 

Cargo coat or raincoat again plenty of pockets so you can keep your bag small. I love this Hunter Boots Original Smock coat in Yellow.

Hunter Boots Original Smock Coat £138.98

Jazzy earrings to turn a day outfit to a going out outfit. The trend now is hoops, pearls and circles. These gold La TRIO SATURNA earrings are great for adding a bit of glam.

Red lipstick another must for going from day to night glam, Ruby Woo from Mac is fab.  

A fun print top when you want to keep it simple and comfy (like on that long car ride) pick a fun print top or a slogan tee with jeans.  

A sundress for a cool option on hot daytime explorations and a relaxed but pretty option of an evening. This amazing leopard print halter dress from Warehouse is a go-to for a patterned one and this t-shirt dress from Hush is nice if you want to keep it plain.

Neon Leopard Print Halter Midi Dress by Warehouse

A jumpsuit if you don’t fancy a dress, a jumpsuit is also perfect for a weekend away and see you from day to night. This Whistles leopard print jumpsuit looks lovely. 

Can you see I’m a big fan of a leopard print here?! Don’t forget you can do twinning leopard vibes with our kid’s sun hats in Leopardtude and Navykin.  

Cub Navykin

A versatile rucksack like a Tiba & Marl changing bag – which has room for everything you could possible need and includes fully insulated zip-up side pocket, interior insulated bottle holder and lots of different pockets and sleeves.

Tote bag for a bag you can roll up and pop in your pocket until you need. Take a look at our Lightning Bolt LHW tote here. 

A baby carrier is crucial if you’re going to be adventuring out in the countryside or need your hands free to travel as you navigate trains etc. We really like Baby Bjorn carriers. Have a look at one of their best designs to date, here.

Travel chargers or portable phone battery because you don’t want to run out and miss photo opportunities or have the chance to save your sanity when toddler upsets require distraction! 

Antibacterial hand gel and wipes so you can easily freshen hands and faces on the go 

The paperwork… Let’s save you from any baby-brain errors! Don’t forget to pack passports, boarding passes, train tickets, insurance details… go through everything before you leave and pop in an easy to access folder or wallet you can grab with ease. 

Need more packing advice? 

• If you’re planning on a camping trip then you can read our specific camping packing guide here.
• If you’re getting away with a new born in tow then read our guide on packing for baby’s first holiday.

Are your usual weekend essentials on this list? If we’ve missed anything then leave us a comment and let us know. We love learning from other travel fans who take their kids away with them!  

Don’t forget to share this with any friends who could benefit from this checklist.